Brighton & Hove Albion will look to continue their push for automatic promotion when they travel to out-of-form Nottingham Forest in Monday's Championship clash at the City Ground.

Brighton currently sit two points behind the league leaders Burnley in third, while they are a point behind second-placed Middlesbrough, who have a game in hand.

Forest, on the other hand, are now looking over their shoulders following a five-game winless run in the league, which has dropped them into 17th spot in the table.

Forest

On Thursday, Forest boss Paul Williams was forced to deny rumours that he is on the verge of resigning from his position and also insisted that chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi has not been picking the team in recent weeks.

"I can categorically say I have picked the team and tactics. Maybe the results haven't gone the way we would have liked, but it's been totally down to me. As staff we all discuss players and teams and how we will set up. But the final word is always down to me," Williams told BBC Sport earlier this week.

Williams, who replaced Dougie Freedman as head coach last month, also insisted that he had "no concerns" over his position at the club, despite failing to win any of his four league matches in charge. Indeed, Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Reading left out-of-form Forest in 17th position in the table.

Nine points currently separate Forest from the bottom three with just six games remaining, bar an incredible turn of events in the final weeks, the Nottingham outfit will play Championship football again next season. They have not won since overcoming Preston North End on March 8, however, which has led to supporter unrest.

Only MK Dons (34) have scored fewer league goals than Forest (35) this season, but they have only conceded 41 times, which is far from a disastrous record. From November 28 to January 23, Forest actually went unbeaten in the Championship, but they have been on a slippery slope since then.

That said, their final six fixtures, on paper, are quite kind. They will face Rotherham United, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and MK Dons after Monday's match and it would be fair to say that the focus is already on next season as they attempt to move on from what has been a disappointing 2015-16 campaign.

Recent form: WLDLLL

Brighton

Brighton finished 20th in the Championship table last season, but with six games of this campaign left to play, Chris Hughton's team are chasing down an unlikely spot in the Premier League.

A record of 20 wins, 15 draws and five defeats has seen the Seagulls collect 75 points and as it stands, they are two points behind the league leaders Burnley and just one shy of second-placed Middlesbrough. The top two both play at the weekend, however, and the picture could look different by the time Brighton take to the field on Monday night.

They are 12 points inside of the playoff positions, meanwhile, and only a collapse in the final weeks would see them drop out of the running altogether. Fourth-placed Hull City will feel that they are still in the race for a top-two finish, but it is looking increasingly likely that two from Brighton, Burnley and Middlesbrough will secure an automatic spot in the top flight.

Since losing 4-1 at Cardiff City on February 20, Brighton have gone unbeaten in the league, which is a run that stretches eight matches. They have won three of their last four in the Championship - including a 2-1 victory at Birmingham City on Tuesday night.

Hughton's side have been strong at home this season, but they also have the second-best away record in the division, having only lost two of their 20 away fixtures - recording seven wins in the process. After Monday's match, they will host Fulham next Friday, before welcoming Queens Park Rangers on April 19.

They will then travel to Charlton Athletic on April 23, before opening May at home to fellow playoff occupants Derby County. The small matter of a trip to Middlesbrough will then occur on the final weekend of the season in what could be one of the biggest matches in their 114-year history.

Recent form: DDWWDW

Team News

Forest boss Williams has no fresh injury concerns from the defeat at Reading last time out, but on-loan Cardiff City striker Federico Macheda could come into the XI as the hosts look for goals.

Dexter Blackstock should keep his spot at the tip of the attack, while Williams will look to Henri Lansbury to provide invention from the middle of the park.

As for Brighton, James Wilson and Jamie Murphy will be pushing for starts after appearing off the bench against Birmingham, but Tomer Hemed is expected to keep his place in attack.

Anthony Knockaert is expected to return in a wide position and the Frenchman could take the place of Kazenga LuaLua, with Jiri Skalak, who set up both goals against Birmingham, operating on the opposite side.

Forest possible starting lineup:
De Vries; Gardner, Mills, Wilson, Jokic; Burke, Cohen, Lansbury, Vaughan; Macheda, Blackstock

Brighton possible starting lineup:
Stockdale; Bruno, Goldson, Dunk, Rosenior; Skalak, Stephens, Kayal, Knockaert; Sidwell; Hemed

Head To Head

In total, these two teams have met on 34 occasions in all competitions. Forest have recorded 15 wins, Brighton nine, while the final 10 matches have finished all square.

Brighton recorded a 1-0 win when the pair met at the Falmer Stadium earlier this season, but the corresponding league match last term finished in a goalless draw.

We say: Forest 0-1 Brighton

Forest have really struggled for goals this season and it is difficult to see them causing Brighton too many problems. It is likely to be a tight affair, but we are backing the visitors to record all the points.